Porter Says He Had No Rooting Interest

It turns out that Oakland Raiders wide receiver Jerry Porter wasn’t cheering against his own team. In fact, he wasn’t even watching the game.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported on its website that Porter, who was inactive for the 27-0 beating the Raiders absorbed from the San Diego Chargers on Monday night, was seen laughing and pumping his fist on the sidelines when Raiders teammate Aaron Brooks was sacked for the seventh time.

However, Porter said he was pumping his fist for other reasons.

“The San Francisco Chronicle report was not true,” Porter told ESPN. “I wasn’t even paying attention to the game. The fist-pumping was in response to some fans that were talking to me when I was sitting on the sidelines.”

Raiders Coach Art Shell said he was unaware of the reported incident.

“I haven’t heard anyone from the organization say anything about it,” Shell said Tuesday. “If it did happen, I am disappointed. He will have to deal with teammates and other people.”

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Deion Branch eased the pain of nearly $600,000 in fines for his holdout in New England by signing a $39-million, six-year contract with the Seattle Seahawks. The former Super Bowl MVP missed the entire exhibition season with the Patriots before he was traded to Seattle on Monday for a 2007 first-round draft pick. He signed the contract with the Seahawks one day later.

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Washington Redskins offensive tackle Jon Jansen will meet soon with NFL officials to discuss his allegations that a number of NFL players use human growth hormone and other performance-enhancing substances.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said in New York that a date for the meeting had not been set. He said the meeting would not involve Commissioner Roger Goodell but would be with those involved with the league’s drug-testing program.

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Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry avoided jail time by pleading guilty to a concealed weapon charge.

In exchange for the plea, Henry will be on probation for two years, serve 100 hours of community service, attend a firearms safety class and forfeit the gun he pulled during a skirmish in downtown Orlando, Fla.

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Pittsburgh Steelers Coach Bill Cowher may not decide until this weekend if quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will start Monday night in Jacksonville.

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Pierson Prioleau, a key special teams player and backup safety for Washington, tore a right knee ligament Monday night and is out for the season.... Green Bay released fullback Vonta Leach, opening up a roster spot for new receiver Koren Robinson.... Houston put cornerback Roc Alexander on injured reserve.... Carolina put left tackle Travelle Wharton on injured reserve and signed offensive lineman Jeremy Bridges.... Philadelphia signed cornerback Dexter Wynn and released running back Bruce Perry.... Detroit signed free-agent wide receiver Az-Zahir Hakim to a one-year contract.... Jacksonville put defensive end Reggie Hayward on injured reserve and signed defensive tackle Montavious Stanley.